Gossip: Force India to reveal new name at F1 car launch

- Force India will go ahead with plans to rebrand for 2018, with its new name set to be revealed at the launch of its new car on February 25 in Barcelona (Auto Motor und Sport)

- The team could be set to call itself 'FORCE F1 Team', with filings at Companies House in the UK showing the registration of a new organisation under that name, with deputy chief Bob Fernley listed as a director (Reddit)

- McLaren's new F1 car for 2018 has passed the mandatory FIA crash tests (McLaren via Twitter)

- McLaren has also announced a new sponsorship deal with news network CNBC (McLaren)

- Fernando Alonso made a surprise cameo appearance on NASCAR's pre-season media tour, hanging out with stock-car legend Jimmie Johnson (Associated Press)

- Toro Rosso technical chief James Key says the Halo cockpit protection device looks "slightly more F1" in its 2018 version (RACER)